Improvement in machines for scouring the eyes of needles



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

HORACE A. NETTLETON AND EDWIN B. LAWTON, OF WEST CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SCOURING THE EYES 0F NEEDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 109,040, dated November 8, 1870.

To all whom 'it 'may concern Be it known that we, HORACE A. NETTLE- ToN and EDWIN R.LAwToN, of West Cheshire, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Seoul-ing the Eyes of Needles; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will'enable others skilled in the artto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view of our improved scouring-machiiie. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are detail sectional views, on an enlarged scale, of the needles, showing the different processes which they undergo to have their eyes finished.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention has for its object to facilitate the scouring or threading of the eyes of sewing-machiiie and other sewing needles; and consists, chieiiy, in the application of a movable scouring-thread, whereby the desired. effect is rapidly produced.

The eyes of needles were heretofore scoured by moving the needles over a stretched but stationary thread which is covered with emery or other equivalent material. This process required ooiisiderable time, as only muscular power could be used, the same being applied directly to the needles. With our improved mechanism the thread is moved with considerably greater force than the needle, and the eyes are consequently much more rapidly iinished.

Ain the drawing represents awheel or disk, mounted upon a shaft, B, which hangs in a frame, C. The shaft is, by a belt, a, connected with a treadle, D, or other mechanismvhereby it receives oscillating motion. E is the scouring thread. It is, fiom a bobbin, F,

drawn through an emery box, or otherwise covered with scouring material, and is thence fitted through an eye, b, at the end of the shaft B, and through an opening in the periphery of the wheel A. The. thread is wound around part of the periphery of the wheel, and is then ii'tted through the eye of the needle Gr, and its end finally secured to a hook, c, that projects from the edge of the wheel. The thread appears thus to straddle the wheel A. As the latter is oscillated the thread will be drawn through the eye of the needle G with rapidity, and will scour or thread the ends of the same.

The needles are perforated by a straight punch, so that the orifice has square ends, as in Fig. 2. They are then usually reanied to take off the square corners, as in Fig. 3, and finally threaded to have the ends of the eye rounded, as in Fig. 4..

By means of our mechanism the reaniing is unnecessary, as the thread works with such greater power that it will change the punched eye, Fig. 5, into a round-ended eye, Fig. 6. After each needle has been scoured, the thread must be detached from the hook, in order to allow the removal of the finished and application of a punched needle.

By means of our mechanism the end of the eye will be accurately rounded, as the thread is in a position to produce the proper shape. The ordinary process of working the needle on the stretched thread iliade a good rounding of the eye almost impossible, as every inaccurate motion was apt to cause an improper bevel or slantiiig edge.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The device consisting of the wheel A, grooved, and provided with the hole through its periphery, the hook c, eye b, shaft B, and a supportforthelatter, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the subject-matter of the iirst clause of claim, the emery-covered thread E, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the subject-matter of the first clause of claim, the belt a and treadle D, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with the subject-matter of the second clause of claim, the reel F, as and for the purpose set forth.

HORACE A. NETTLETON. EDWIN R. LAWTON. Witnesses:

FRANKLIN WALLACE, EDWARD A. UoRNwALL. 

